Otto, Ikwaput among Fortebet Real Stars of July
David GOMBE
The organisers of the Fortebet Real Stars awards have named the winners for the month of July.
Six athletes from six sports disciplines were awarded at the ceremony held at Lazio Restaurant in Lugogo on Tuesday morning.
The winners were from Basketball, Rugby, Football, Para-badminton, Rally and Draughts.
Gazelles forward Jannon Otto was named the best basketball player of July after her astonishing performances at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Kigali.
At the event, the Ugandan finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 128 points and was named in the team of the tournament.
She beat Jane Asinde (Gazelles) and Joel Rugette (Junior Silverbacks) to the accolade.
Pirates Arnold Atukunda was named best Rugby player of the month after helping his side to two National Sevens circuit wins in Jinja and Kitgum in the National Rugby 7s.
Atukunda garnered 110 points.
Flavia Kusiima was the best Draughts player of the month after clinching six medals in Zambia at the third African draughts 64 Championship and World Cup event.
Kusiima clinched gold in Brazilian Draughts, blitz during the African championship. She also had silver in pool checkers Draughts and was third in Russian Draughts.
Kusiima was recognized by the International Draughts Federation with Women Master of Federation (WFM) title to become the first Ugandan women to acquire the title.
She beat Dan Isabirye and Lilian Namujuzi to the accolade.
In Rally, the Moil crew of Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba clinched the accolade for a fourth consecutive time following their success at the EMC Moil Jinja Rally.
They beat the Rally team of Ronald Ssebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa and Ibrahim Lubega/Mustapha Kanakulya to the July gong.
Sarah Nazziwa was rewarded with the best Para-badminton award of July for her two bronze medals at the Uganda International Para Badminton that was held in Lugogo.
She also won two gold medals and a silver at the Para Africa Badminton in Lugogo.
She beat Harriet Nakayima and Elizabeth Mwesigwa to the accolade.
Crested Cranes Fazila Ikwaput was named the best football player of July after helping the national side overcome Rwanda in the first Olympic Qualifier. She scored in the 3-3 draw in the first round before settling the tie with her sole strike in the second round.
Ikwaput beat Ssingo’s Stuart Keezaala and Yusuf Mukwana (Buwekula) to the gong.
The awards are sponsored by Fortebet betting company and Jude Color solutions.
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July Winners:
•Basketball – Jannon Otto (Gazelles)
•Rugby – Arnold Atukunda (Pirates)
•Football – Fazila Ikwaput (Crested Cranes)
•Para-Badminton – Sarah Nazziwa
•Rally – Yassin Nasser & Ali Katumba
•Draughts – Flavia Kusiima